Hembree's quest (1&2)

Kuna had found the portal easy enough and a bit of swimming had brought him back through the portal and into his own realm. He still was unsure of how he had gotten back there, and it seemed like he would take further examination upon what he needed to do to see if he had gotten a concussion that would explain the memory loss. Those lingering questions were pushed out of his mind as he rested upon one of the larger rocks on the cove and glanced around. It was odd that the portal between the realms wasn't guarded on either side, but the powers that be probably just kept surveillance on the place. He shrugged his shoulders at that and just stood up stretching and started making his way away from the coastline and towards the far away spires of Sai City. He had his first university classes that he needed to attend in a few weeks time, and he couldn't be late for that.

Hanging back a moment, Paco looks up to notice the motion from Kuna and he nods and motions for Kuna to continue on; he would catch up with him in a minute since it wasn’t like the human would be moving outside of visual range. From there, the focus leaves the fairy and shifts to the elder sitting upon the rock, overlooking the vast and endless seas. As Kuna speaks to this figure, he would not shift to turn towards him, nor show any outward signs to acknowledge the young man’s presence. Instead the senior monk would lift a hand to its chin and rub along the braided hair, stroking down in an unhurried fashion.

A soft saline zephyr would drift inward the shore from the genesis of the outlying marine surface shifting the garments of the aged male. On closer observation of the glassy orbs housed within the frame of his face, his unblinking gaze would suggest that perhaps the male was in an abstraction of some type, entranced by some deep meditation perhaps. Traces of salt and sand would be set within his jade garments, hints to his sedentary position at this spot. His corporeal location seemed fixed.

Kuna just gave a sigh, why did people choose not too answer simple questions, and instead they chose to act mysteriously. "Okay, I guess you like too act all mysteriously." Kuna would say giving another sigh. "But could you stop with the act and give me some information on where this scroll is?" He would ask again though he expected the monk to pull the same mystery act as before. Kuna would probably have to ask Paco to talk too the monk too see if he would respond or not too the Yokai's presence.

As Kuna persisted, the elder eventually showed movement. The ground rumbled a bit with no cause of explanation. On closer observation of the elder’s skin, at least what was visible, it did not appear very skin like, but more of a stony texture. Life seems to return to the elders eyes as his ancient mouth moves to inquire, “so you seek the scroll, do you?” The rumbling may have been his power, but it intensifies as the elder stands up, his body growing in much larger proportions to what it was with his body becoming more and more stone like. “Then defeat me,” is his ultimatum as he turns to face Kuna, towering four stories above him. The elder slams his foot into the ground causing the soft sands there to cave in; the waters from the sea would start to fill in, creating a type of quick sand beneath Kuna’s feet rendering the soil there useless for footing. Solid ground would be about ten yards inwards towards the mainland. The ground bursts as a large blade comes up from beneath it, raping the terrain more as water washed over it. It Kuna was not careful, he would be washed into the sea. The elder’s large right hand comes to the sword and grips it, then lifts it up high in anticipation on slamming it down on Kuna’s position.

"Oh finally you broke that silent streak of yours." He would say in a exasperated way, but the rumbling soon caused him to quiet as the monk steadily grew taller and taller. "Should have seen that coming." Kuna would say at hearing the ultimatum. "May the goddess of fire strike you down." Kuna would say while the monk was in the middle of calling his blade. A ball of fire was created before him and shot out too the monks face where it would explode in his eyes. The ball of fire probably wouldn't do anything damage related too the monk, but it should have temporarily blinded him enough for him to fire two shots from his Garand. Not towards the head or chest, but focused upon the neck and the jugular artery. His rifle wouldn't be able to do any substantial damage too the four sized story monk, but it still had a human anatomy (he hoped)which could be exploited to cause his life blood to bleed out of him. (if he had blood that is) He would then put himself into motion by sprinting back towards where Paco had originally dropped him off at.

Since Kuna has not moved for the more stable ground, the mainland would be cut off by the waters, only about 6 feet or so deep, with the terrain of mud and ankle high water beneath him at this moment. The fire attack would have to have a hell of a curveball to bypass the bulk of the monk’s body to the face beyond its chest, but it manages to hit; though the monk’s actions continue as planned to grab the blade. Kuna’s footing is compromised as the shots are fired, but they still do more or less what they intended to do; almost. They bullets and the impact they make highlight a field of sorts about the golem monk indicating that it was protected by type of barrier, probably something triggered by the fire magic. Readying its blade, the monk slams it down on Kuna’s position. The blow would cascade water up to chest height of the towering monk and create a rut of creek like proportions.

The monk speaks, “I’ve had warriors come at me with swords and staff, but what of this contraption you have. You are no warrior; you must prove yourself for me to relinquish these scrolls.”

Kuna was indignant that while his shots had been perfect, they had been deflected by some cheap barrier. He did not have another choice though as he lost his footing and immediately started scrambling, not away but towards the right. This way he would be out of the immediate area of the sword falling down to strike his previous position. "Yes, well you got modernize your expectations. Now, you can have a warrior fight you with a gun." He would say going up too a kneeling position and immediately shot off two more shots from his Garand. His aim this time was for the femoral artery which would probably be an easier shot if it didn't get deflected this time. He wouldn't focus too much on how his shots landed this time as he focused on making his way around the backside of the giant.

The sword would lift from the ground, bringing with it bits and chunks of wet earth as it lifted. The golems would shift about and look to Kuna as it lifted its blade again and comments, “you perceive yourself to be a warrior of the archer class, then?” Around this time, Kuna would feel his body become lighter and stronger (Unwetting Rain, +1 attributes). From outside the fight, Paco would be actively casting spells to assisting him in his battle. A column of light would cascade around Paco as a hazy mist would appear around Kuna as his abilities are boosted once more (Enhance, +1 attributes).

"I guess you could call it that if you wanted." Kuna would yell back as he felt himself becoming stronger. He would have to assume that Paco had decided to help him in his fight, which meant he would have to pay him back some way. Kuna would have come back around and would take aim this time at the monk's achillie's tendon. He would put two shots into the giant's right tendon, which should hopefully limit its movement capabilities even more. He would only have one shot left though in his Garand though before he needed to slap in a fresh clip into the gun.

Not only would Kuna be stronger, but he would be faster, have a quicker response time, etc. He should notice the movements of the large golem becoming extremely slow compared to how he could react to it; it should open up a whole new world for him in a manner of thinking. The shooting persists and the golem notices the tenaciousness of the young man. This would not have him relent in his attack, however. The two shots would be like mosquito bites to his tendon, causing him to falter slightly but respond by kicking that leg out and towards Kuna. The side of the foot would come like a bus aimed to punt the human from his position to the sandy shores of the beach a few yards away.

Kuna would keep moving in his circle and once again take aim with his final bullet, this time putting the final shot in one of the giant's eye. He would then take advantage of the opportunity too run up too the giant and wrapped his hands around one of the ankle and would strain his body pulling the giant off the ground and lifted him up to crash back into the ground, where he could use the giant as a human bridge to the mainland. He would immediately dash up the backside of the giant until he was back too the mainland, where he would be and much more stable footing.

The giant’s head rocks back as the bullet hits it; its foot caught, it finds itself flung by the superhuman Kuna and is soon picking itself out of the side of the coast. As it gets up, it uses its power of foresight to see into the future. He’s able to see into the heart of Kuna as well and see determination, grit and such; for that reason, his body reverts to the form of a normal sized elder… the same one that Kuna had originally approached. He seemed unharmed in juxtaposition of the battle which just took place. He speaks to Kuna stating, “maybe you are a worthy adversary. Your have heart and a strength I have never seen in a human. Here, you may take these two scrolls.” With that, the elder would hand him the scrolls and then walk back through the torn terrain, to the rock he was sitting on. The archipelago would repair itself over time in time for whoever the next challenger would be. Paco flies over and looks to Kuna with a cheerful, “mission accomplished!” With that, he would be eager to get back to Hembree for the reward. In that sense, he would tell Kuna to hold on and transform into the large dragonfly dragon once more. After Kuna was mounted on, he would rush back to the portion of the forest where Hembree had been just before night would fall over Yochi. Getting there, it would seem that Hembree had moved on.

The fight was suddenly over with, and the sage had given them two scrolls that they needed. Kuna would take the opportunity to slap a fresh bloc of bullets into the Garand. Kuna would give a nod towards Paco. "Yeah, thanks for the help by the way. not sure if I could have won without your help." He would tell the fairy as he took up his position over on the dragon and would return too the place where Hembree was. "Great, now we have to find him again." Kuna would say after dropping down too the ground. "It wouldn't just be that easy would it." He would say making his way towards the stone and would stoop down to examine the tracks. He hoped that he could find the tracks of the priest easily enough.

Paco reverts to normal and into his fairy form allowing Kuna to move about the area. Paco did notice himself that Hembree did not seem to be in sight. After Kuna’s words, he would split directions with Kuna for a moment in search of the monk, using his ability to fly to his advantage, but alas the tree tops of the forest were dense. Try as they might it would seem that the monk had vanished for all practical purposes and would have to be found another day. Since it was getting late and darkness was falling over Yochi, Paco would bid a farewell to Kuna and advise that they could continue their search for Hembree the next day. They would set this as the meeting point and convene back here. With that, Paco would zip away and head back to the land of Domenance for now.

The next day, Paco would return to the same place to meet with Kuna. There, as if he had never moved, the monk would be sitting, casually smoking a pipe. Having arrived first, Paco would wait on Kuna before going to the monk, hoping that the human would have remembered to meet with him this day.

It would appear that Hembree had simply upped and vanished, which was annoying, but they had to deal with that. They would use the few hours left of daylight too search for the priest, but they still hadn't found them. Paco had suggested meeting back up in the same place tomorrow, which Kuna liked since he would need to change his clothes and recover from the days exertions. Kuna would wave goodbye too the departing spirit and begin marching back too a phone booth and making a call for a cab to come pick him up.

The next day Kuna would come back out wearing a set of fresh camouflage pants and shirt with his Garand tucked over his shoulder. It was not very surprising to see Hembree once again at the very same place as before. "Saves us time." He would say too Paco as he trotted up too the priest. "We got the scroll, mind doing whatever mojo it is that I paid you to do?" Kuna would ask taking out the mystic scrolls and tossing them in front of Hembree.

Paco would greet the human on his arrival and on his notice of Hembree he would nod in agreement. The monk shifts his attention to Kuna on his approach and seemingly doesn’t recognize him at first. After looking at the scrolls that were taken out, Hembree would look down at them and say, “two?” Of course, Kuna had only paid him for the first scroll, Hembree would explain that the other scroll would require more tender, tender of the variety that Paco had given him the previously day. After the money situation was situated, Hembree would stash the money into his clothing once more and look to the throws scrolls and wave his hand in their general direction. Nothing really would happen, but Hembree would act as if he were done. Motioning to the scrolls, he would advise Kuna, “go there and dig at the X. Then, sir, you shall have your treasure.”

Kuna would get the scrolls back after that transaction, but it seemed like there would be some digging involved. "Well, thanks for helping with that." He would say picking up the scrolls and returning too Paco. "Guy said to go too the X on the map and dig, only problem is that we need to go back into the city too get a shovel unless you want to expedite things and use that dragon form of yours to dig it up." He would say to Paco as he unfurled his scroll and looked at it intently. "Seems easy enough doesn't?"

Paco waits for Kuna to return; when he is shown the scrolls, he looks down to them and nods his head a bit and assures, “digging is not a problem! I’m certain I will be able to complete this with my mighty powers!” Judging from the map, Paco states, “it looks like we have to go south of here… I wonder how accurate this map is…” He cheerfully dismisses, “well, my master is waiting! Let’s get a move on!” From there he would transform into the large dragon once more with all the necessary lens flares, bells and whistles. He would await Kuna’s mounting before taking to the skies and flying very briskly towards the south. After flying for some time, he would speak to Kuna advising that it looked like they were coming onto the spot. Chances were they would have to go by foot once close to find the exact area. They also would probably have to dig more than one hole. Regardless, the inclination of the sky hung dragon tilts earthward and gravity comes into play as it glides down and into the area of the forest as indicated on the map. Once there, Paco would revert to his 6 inches of fun and look around the area, leaving the navigation of the dig sites to Kuna.

It was awfully convenient to have transportation of this sort when one needed to get around from place to place, but it was the best way too get from one place too the next without some form of instant teleportation. Kuna would would get up onto Paco's back after he transformed and give him directions too the dig site. They would drop out of the air a bit away from the actual X spot and leave him to navigate the rest of the way there. That wouldn't be too hard because of the relative closeness of the site. It would just be a few minutes of walk and navigation, and they would be standing directly over the X spot. "Here we are."

Without protest or delay, Paco converts back into his dragon form turns his back to the dig site. The X could actually be quite small since the hind leg he would be digging with would be large enough to litter the area in small craters after a while. Not really like a dog but like some sort of animal, Paco would kick out with his back foot, digging out earth at the place pointed to. Eventually his foot would hit something hard which would cause for him to stop with a small tear forming at his eye. In order to inspect it, he shifts around and leans in, looking down at a stone that seemed to have a seal marking on it. Paco speaks mentally to Kuna as he asks, “a rock?”

Kuna just got out of the way and let Paco go too work. It would only be a few minutes before Paco stopped having found something during his digging. Kuna would approach the hole after Paco had shrunk down too his six inch fairy self, and jump down into the hole to get a better look. "It looks like it, but it has a paper seal on it." He would say looking down at that rock more closely. He would touch the rock and feel a gentle pulse of energy coming from it. "Doesn't seem dangerous." Kuna said as on a whim he pulled the paper seal off the rock smoke began to immediately bellow out of the rock bringing a little bit of worry too his mind. He needn't to have worried though as soon the smoke cleared to show a little maned lion ghost standing in front of Kuna and Paco. "Guess this would be the thing Hembree was talking about....wonder what the hell it is." Kuna would say taking a little experimental poke at the ghost lion.

Following suite, Paco would poke it too. He didn’t know if the thing was going to speak or not. Oddly enough, two creatures, or rather ghosts, seemed to be summoned at the same time. Not really noticeable, there was a small mouse that scurried along the ground beneath them, its lower body seemingly ghostlike as well. Lifting up on its hind… cloud, it squeaks up saying, “thank you for unlocking us! It was so cramped in that rock between the two of us. We are Tomo-kun and you are our new masters. We’re very helpful as we can stash equipment in alternate realms and do not take up much space.” Paco rubs his chin looking down at the small thing. The power wasn’t that cool, but he liked being called “master” over something. With his hands on his waists he laughs tilting his head back to the heavens, “yes! I am your noble master!”

Kuna looked down towards the mouse like ghost, and pondered what it said. The ability may not have sounded useful too Paco, but he could certainly use it himself especially since he wouldn't need to lug around any of his weapons anymore. He glanced over to Paco who didn't seemed sold on the whole power thing, but he guessed being called master was good enough for him. "You know depending on their carrying capacity, that power would be really useful. You could carrying tons of supplies for Domenance with that little guy." Kuna would say looking over too the lion ghost who was pretty much at this time laying on its side. "I think I got the lazy one." Kuna would say.

Paco stops laughing for a moment to listen to reason. He looks at Kuna and praises him for being wise among mortals. Rubbing his chin, he comments, “that’s actually a good idea.” Looking to the mouse, which was about as big as he, he asks, “can you fly?” The mouse demonstrates by floating up to him. Paco sighs, “thank Domen!” He looks to Kuna and informs, “well, this is where our paths part. I bid ye luck in your future endeavors. It was fun.” He would wait for the response before looking to his mousy friend and speaking, “alright! Let’s get you back to Domenance and put you to work!” With that, the fairy and the mouse would take their leave of the forest setting.